A class of full diversity space-time codes

We propose a new class of space-time trellis codes for 4 transmit antennas. These codes combine set-partitioning and a super set of quasi-orthogonal space-time block codes in a systematic way to provide full diversity and improved coding gain. The result is a very powerful non full-rate code that provides full diversity and high coding gain for different number of states and at different rates. Also, it is possible to maintain a tradeoff between coding gain and rate. The decoding complexity of the new codes is very low because the symbols can be decoupled at the decoder. Simulation results demonstrate the good performance of our new space-time trellis codes. We provide a study of coding gain and different code examples.